A US private equity firm has joined the family of late reggae star Bob Marley in hopes of building what it calls the “world’s first global cannabis brand”.

Seattle-based Privateer Holdings announced that it has reached a licensing deal with Marley’s heirs to offer pot strains where regulations permit by late 2015. It also plans to sell weed-infused lotions and accessories.

But the move to create Marley Natural has stirred some grousing in Marley’s Jamaican homeland, notably among those who share his Rastafarian faith. Others are angered that Marley Natural will be based in New York.

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